Southern Pacific GS-1 Project Update

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Availability: This project is currently in the development stage. If you would like to be included in any dedicated project mailings please make us aware of your interest if you have not already done so using any means provided in our contact information,

Price: $4,250.00 (estimate)

Versions Offered: TBD

Production Quantity: 100

10/29/17 - This project has now been placed on my 'Archived Project' list, which means that I am no longer hopeful of acquiring sufficient reference material to continue the development of the project. Rather than remove it from the project list, it remains listed with the hope that the 'right' person will see mention of the project and come forward with previous unknown reference materials. I often hear that other importers have produced this project why can't I? The level of detail and accuracy that I strive for are far beyond the specifications of other's projects and I will not ask anyone to invest in a model that I produce if I am not totally satisfied that I can deliver a model that I would be pleased with myself. If you can help with reference material, by all means get in touch......please!

1/01/14 - Our planned GS-1 project has pretty much taken a back seat to our work on the SP 'AC' project. While I have not decided against doing the project, the AC project certainly seems to have captured the imagination of SP fans and the demand has shifted attention to that project. I am continuing to gather the necessary information to proceed with the GS-1 and any help that can be offered would be greatly appreciated!

4/21/09 - I continue to receive many inquiries regarding our development of this project and there seems to be a frequently reoccurring theme to many of the inquiries. To address this situation in short form; I will not be doing direct comparisons of what we plan versus what Key Model Imports did with their project. I have never provided evaluations of existing models in public or otherwise and I will not change that policy. My teams full attention is on our development and not what others have done or are trying to do. Further, to allay the expressed fear of my potential new customers with this project that I may not see the need to deliver a finished product meeting our usual standards, that could not be further from the truth. If I can not deliver a model on a par with or better than our last project which has again reset the industry benchmark, I will not bother doing the project at all, that is the experience of my existing clients based on their feedback. Feedback from owners is extremely important to me and that is why I provide all means of communicating your desires and concerns to me; phone calls as well as fax and e-mail messages are always welcome.

On the more positive side, some things that we will be doing: our versions and variations will be fully researched and verified. Every previously used applicable construction technique will be utilized with this project, there will be no shortcuts, period. There will be two (2) tender types plus variations: the 160-C-4 and the 220-R-1. We will be offering late-service T&NO versions complete with 'doghouse' tenders as well as post T&NO 'Pacific' versions. More details will be released as they are finalized so stay tuned!

4/13/09 - Since our last post to this project site we have received a number of messages, including photos, pertaining to reported problems with our fellow importers like model. It seems that the expectation is that we will post or make public what is being said to us and I need to let everyone know that will not happen, the Internet is already abuzz with such information and we will not add to it. We have and will continue to take into account during our project development any and all research information we obtain or are provided with the sole interest of making our project as successful as it can possibly be. In that light, if you do have a specific concern about something that has been done on previous models and do not want to see the same mistake made by us, by all means tell us of your concern. As we update our project specifications we will not be commenting on any previous models, we will only be stating what standard our models will be built to and based on our past performance, you can trust in the fact that we will not only meet that standard, but will exceed it. You may also note that we have added two more versions that will be offered, the details of each variation will posted as we finalize our plans.

4/06/09 - It should have been stated in our last update that our specification page for our GS-1 project will be updated shortly. We believe that it is necessary to add the items to our listing that we have considered so fundamental to quality model construction that we have never listed them in the past, several these items are not part of our competitors build specifications and we believe it is important to further differentiate what our project will include.

4/05/09 - The inquiries regarding this project have intensified dramatically since the delivery of the Key Imports GS-1 project, with most very hopefully asking if we plan to move forward with our development. Point of fact is that we have never ceased work on this project regardless of the fact that Key announced the project after us and has actively worked to produce it before us. We have continued to gather reference material and as recently as February prior to attending O Scale West we collected a large cache of new material that will be reviewed in the coming weeks as we get back up to speed. The same standards used to decide on the viability of doing other previously produced models hold true for the GS-1 as well. While we do our own critique in making the project decision, we rely heavily on the feedback received directly as well as indirectly about the acceptability of any previously or currently available model. There are three aspects that we consider in making our determination: the reference work reflected in the accuracy of the model, the engineering and features included in the model as well as the construction techniques employed in the production. In the case of the GS-1 we have determined as well as have been advised through feedback that we should aggressively move forward with our rendition of the GS-1. Many of you have offered your input and have also asked for as many specifics as possible for why we intend to continue with this project, but just let it be said that we have made our decision based on all three areas of our consideration. We will update further as we work through the latest data, please feel free to continue with your input, what you offer will allow us to make our GS-1 as good as it can possibly be.

9/18/08 - It has been quite some time since our last update on this project, but that should not indicate a lack of activity behind the scenes. Quite frankly, we continue to receive numerous inquiries about this project we suspect as a result of one of competitors plans to release this model sometime in the future. It is not our intent to impact in any way what our importers are doing, we are only concerned with our planning and objectives. We have made considerable progress in collecting data, but we have not seen enough material that would allow us to move forward on the basis that we have enough data to ensure that we would not face unanswerable design questions. We are continuing to chase data that we know exists and we fully intend to produce this project if at all possible regardless of what others may do, this has been the commitment that we have made on an ongoing basis to all that have inquired. If you can help with material or know someone that may be able to please get in touch!

1/23/07 - We have encouraging news regarding our GS-1 project; after many months of little progress in collecting reference drawings to continue our development, we may have struck gold! Indications are that we will have access to material previously unavailable which will allow us to move forward with this project. It has been a real disappointment that we have not been successful until now in locating the material we require. If you are an SP fan please keep your fingers and toes crossed, we will continue to update regarding this situation as it develops.

3/14/06 - This project has been dormant for a number of months as we have pursued reference materials and waited to see if the competition was going to actually produce their version of the GS-1. With a major find of data, we are now looking to push forward with this project and a decision in that regard will be made shortly. Stay tuned as this situation continues to develop.

9/26/03 - Since one of our competitors has also decided to produce this prototype, we have made the decision to hold our GS-1 back until theirs is delivered. Our projects require the direct involvement of our clients and a complete sharing of information from the development process, if we were to move forward at full speed we would wind up designing our competitors model for them. When it comes to the ultimate purchase decision should you be interested in buying a GS-1 model, you will have to evaluate which to buy based on reputed value delivered for the dollars spent for each company offering the models for sale. Trust that we will maximize our efforts to bring the ultimate GS-1 model to market and we will share information from the process as best we can without compromising the unique value of our project. Please stay tuned for further information.

3/21/03 - The GS-1's were classic Baldwin built light 'Northern' locomotives that have never been modeled in O scale. This is the first project for our new builder and we are thrilled at the prospect of completing this project by years end. The class consisted of fourteen (14) locomotives assigned to both the Pacific Lines and the T&NO Lines, We will produce a minimum of three (3) versions using two basic tender styles, the 160-C-2 cylindrical and the 220-R-1 rectangular. Under consideration is at least one T&NO version in later service when 'doghouse' equipped tenders were utilized, this version may use either of the tender styles or both if the demand exists. Additionally, we have four pilot styles to choose from and two different valve-gear arrangements, the Laird 'multi-bearing' or 'Alligator'. Stay tuned for further developments!

 

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